Author: Father Albert

Reasonable Fear

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12 Sunday of Ordinary Time. A                                                                                 June 21, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette Video of 8am Mass: https://youtu.be/Mh55zEHBIF8 “Fear no one!” This man has just told his Apostles that they will be slandered, persecuted, and hated. He said that brothers will have their own brothers killed and that there will even be children who have their own parents put to death. And then this man, this Jesus has the gall to say, “fear no one.” Can you imagine if your own son or daughter were to have you executed? Would the...Read More

Just Accept It

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Sacred Heart of Jesus, A                                                                                             June 19, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette Video of Mass: https://youtu.be/d5e9vYvW0To “It was not because you are the largest of all nations that the LORD set his heart on you and chose you… it was because the LORD loved you.” So Moses tells our spiritual ancestors, the Israelites. So we need to hear today. It was not because you were good that the Lord set his heart on you. It was not because you were wealthy or pious or influential or attractive that the Lord...Read More

The Prize of Participation

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Corpus Christi, A                                                                                                        June 14, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette Video of 8am Mass: https://youtu.be/sUR4Td2v0oI People often like to make fun of the idea of a participation trophy. Some even claim we spoiled a whole generation by celebrating their ordinariness instead of challenging them to truly excel through competition. So, what do we hear when St. Paul talks about participation? When he says, “The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?” Does this mean the Eucharist is something you get for just...Read More

Great Saints in Dark Times

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From the bulletin of June 14, 2020      Perhaps by now, you’ve come to see that the Church was in some pretty dark times in the 16th and 17th centuries. Between the Protestant Reformation, the re-introduction of slavery to Europe (and the New World), the violent wars that these divisions sparked, and the brewing conflict between the Church and Galileo (and other scientists after him) things must have seemed pretty rough. It is in the worst of times, however, that God raises up the greatest saints. Before I delve into the infamous Galileo controversy, I want to briefly sum up...Read More

The Awful Mystery

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Trinity Sunday, A                                                                                                       June 7, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette Video of the 8am Mass: https://youtu.be/c6QNZhfHWvw If you think you understand the Trinity, you’re wrong. If you don’t believe in the Trinity, you’re wrong. Perhaps more than anything else, this mystery of the faith is the most humbling because we are forced into the position of firmly believing what we cannot possibly understand while we are also expected to try to understand. In other words, we have to try to do something even though we know we’re going to...Read More

Pastor Column: Adoration Chapel Update

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From the bulletin of June 7, 2020      Many of you have been asking about the re-opening of the adoration chapel in our parish hall. It has not been open during Phase I because 25% of that small chapel is too easily surpassed. That being said, as soon as phase II begins, the adoration chapel will re-open, but there are some adjustments you should know about.      The first thing is that I want to have regularly scheduled exposition every week. At this point, it looks like we’ll do Exposition every Wednesday afternoon with benediction later in the day. I’ll...Read More

Pastor Column: Slavery

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From the Bulletin of Pentecost Sunday May 31, 2020      I want to back up about 100 years on our historical journey. The Council of Trent was a major event in the history of our faith, clarifying much of what we have always believed and continue to believe as Catholics. But there were other historical currents running alongside this one whose source was just a little before the 1500s.      There are some who argue criticize Christianity by saying that it permitted or even encouraged slavery . They point to passages in Scripture which tell slaves to be obedient and...Read More

Given to Break the Barrier

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Pentecost Sunday, A                                                                                                   May 31, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette Video of Mass: https://youtu.be/ZU7ExFUPT4g “Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?” That’s a quote from a comedy in the 90s when I was a kid. Kids today might know the movie, but more likely they’ve only seen the meme that uses that scene. Memes are interesting. Short clips, iconic pictures, or really great lines sometimes transcend their original context to become a standalone piece of the online culture. What’s interesting about them is what...Read More

Indulgences

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Column from the bulletin of Ascension Sunday May 24, 2020           I’ve spoken of these several times now, but it’s time to actually explain what they are and how they work. An indulgence is not “buying your way into heaven” and anyone who thinks of that way is misunderstanding the whole structure. In short, an indulgence is a way to access and apply God’s grace and mercy to a specific persons’ life. Ultimately, Salvation comes through Christ and all grace comes from Christ. An indulgence is no exception, it is just a formal structure for understanding the many ways that...Read More

To Shouts of Joy

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Solemnity of the Ascension, A                                                                                   May 24, 2020Fr. Albert                                                                                St. John the Evangelist, Jeanerette Video of 8AM Mass: https://youtu.be/N-I0uCsPXIg “God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.” That’s my favorite response of the whole year. I look forward to it every time Ascension rolls around. Not just the music – there are different versions that are all pretty good – but what it says, what it means to me… to us if we’re paying attention. I mean, if we’re honest, most people pay no attention to...Read More